Girl Reading Letter while Mother and Child Gaze at Sparrows
c. 1791
Medium
Color woodblock print; aiban
Dimensions
31.7 × 22.2 cm (12 1/2 × 8 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110745
Art Historical Context
In the intimate domestic scene of *Girl Reading Letter while Mother and Child Gaze Sparrows*, Kitagawaamaro captures a tender moment from everyday Edo-period Japan around 1791. Utamaro (1753–1806), a leading figure in the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") movement, specialized in bijin-ga—elegant portrayals of beautiful women. This color woodblock print, in the aiban format (a compact half-sheet size of about 31.7 × 22.2 cm), reflects the era's fascination with fleeting pleasures and quiet family life amid urban bustle. The artwork's mastery lies in Utamaro's innovative techniques: i...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...